Penny Brooks

"Aeris, your life is reaching its end. You only have one more year to live at most." I, Aeris Brown, feel devastated at this news. Clinging to one last shred of hope, I call my mate, Caius Everett. However, I find out he is keeping his first love, Freya Brooks, company at the moment. "Cai, it's our son's turn to go for the checkup," says Freya. On the very day that I am diagnosed with a terminal illness, he is accompanying Freya and her pup for a body checkup. I freeze on the spot. Besides myself, no one else remembers that Caius and I once had a pup too. But due to an accident, I miscarried her. At that moment, I finally decide to let go. But when I want to sever our mate bond and leave Caius, he clenches my chin and warns, "Aeris, you need to atone for what you and your dad owe me. I won't allow you to leave me." When the day of my eternal departure arrives, Caius loses his mind after hearing about my death. He kneels on the floor and repeatedly begs for me to come back.

Four years ago, Evan Brooks walked away from Ryan Hale, the boy who was his first love, his everything after catching him in what looked like a betrayal. Shattered and humiliated, Evan swore he’d never let Ryan close again but fate doesn’t care about promises. Now, their parents’ whirlwind marriage has made them stepbrothers. The boy Evan once loved and hated is suddenly living under the same roof, looking hotter, cockier, and more untouchable than ever. Evan tells himself he’s over it. He tells himself Ryan is his past but every stare feels like a dare. Every smirk is a reminder of the nights they once burned for each other. Ryan has his own secret, he never cheated. He’s been waiting for a second chance… even if it means breaking every rule in the book. And when the truth comes out, one question will remain— Was their love always doomed, or is the real danger finally giving in?

Aku didiagnosis menderita lupus eritematosus sistemik stadium berat dan akan meninggal tiga hari lagi. Setelah 188 kali telepon permintaan tolongku ditolak suamiku, aku membawa hasil pemeriksaan dan melangkah masuk ke kantor pelayanan perawatan akhir hayat. “Halo, tolong bantu jadwalkan proses kremasiku dan ajukan juga bantuan subsidi dari pemerintah.” Sepuluh menit kemudian, mereka datang. Belum sempat aku bicara, suamiku yang seorang pengacara langsung menamparku tanpa ekspresi. “Demi merebut perhatian dari Penny, kamu pura-pura sakit parah?” Kakakku yang seorang dokter merebut hasil pemeriksaanku, lalu membuka dan menatapku, sambil mencibir, “Lupus? Kalau mau pura-pura sakit, setidaknya yang masuk akal. Penyakit seperti ini hanya diderita satu dari sejuta orang.” Aku menahan rasa sakit di tubuhku, lalu kembali ke meja petugas dan menyerahkan formulir, serta hasil medis lagi. Melihat ruam berbentuk kupu-kupu di pergelangan tanganku, petugas itu tampak iba. “Aku sudah nggak punya keluarga lagi.” “Aku ingin mendaftar layanan kremasi tiga hari lagi, lokasinya bebas. Aku hanya berharap kematianku nggak menjadi beban bagi siapapun.”

« Je jure que je vais tous les faire payer. » ******* Astoria Brooks est jeune, a réussi et le monde entier est à ses pieds. Une famille aimante et un mariage parfait, que pourrait-il arriver de mal ? Cependant, elle ne s'attend pas à ce que sa vie, telle qu'elle la connaît, s'effondre en quelques minutes. Son mariage parfait se termine par un divorce chaotique et inattendu, sa famille l'abandonne et elle perd tout ce pour quoi elle a travaillé. Mais que se passe-t-il après son réveil dans le lit de Zayan Reed, le mystérieux jeune milliardaire ? Et que se passe-t-il lorsqu'il lui offre non seulement un mariage contractuel, mais aussi une chance de se venger ? Astoria choisira-t-elle d'oublier son passé et de céder à ses sentiments pour Zayan ? Ou sa quête de vengeance la détruira-t-elle une fois pour toutes ?